★★★★★★★★★★7/10

A fairy tale inspired movie of a fisherman who catches no fish, a boy with no family and a circus of freaks.

Jonas (Leonard Proxauf) is a poor boy who must get over the death of his fisherman father (Rolf Becker). He’s taken in by the local clergy, but finds it difficult to let go of his beloved father. Struggling to adjust, he gravitates towards a band of circus freaks newly arrived in town. Grido (Manni Laudenbach) the ringmaster, shows Jonas what he desires most can come from within.

The story is a straightforward and told quickly in its one hour length. Where this film shines is the acting behind Jonas and his father. Their interaction, subtlety conveys tenderness and love. It’s integral in helping the audience understand how deeply Jonas’ loss is. The director did a good job, I found myself emotionally invested in Jonas.

The other star of the movie is the film making. Apparently the movie was made by film students. Cinematography, composition, music and art direction combined for some haunting scenes. Bravo to the young film makers for building such a rich world. They’ve done such magic, I’m hard pressed to tell what time period it’s in. If I had to guess it’s in the late 19th century. I’m basing it off a similar vibe as The Dog of Flanders story. Equally perplexing is the film setting. The filming locations indicate northern Germany, closer to Denmark, but it’s quite alien to me. Mind you it is a fairy tale; it could be any place or time period.

With the combination of great acting and haunting outdoor visuals, Nimmermeer is truly cinematic in it’s scope and impact.

beaches, boy, death, Drama, Fairy Tale, Fantasy, film, fisherman, german, info, movie, orphan, review Germany, Sci-Fi/Fantasy